I resisted writing about Snooks Eaglin’s funeral yesterday, wondering if it was tasteless to comment on it. But later in the day at the visitation for Antoinette K-Doe at the Mother-in-Law Lounge, people asked how it was, so I’ll use that request as my guide.

It was very nice. It was generally the right mix of church ritual and secular expressions, so there was a ritualized comfort dimension, but it was a service about Eaglin and it couldn’t have been mistaken for anyone else’s funeral. Irma Thomas’ gospel performance was powerful, though her brief remarks left me feeling like she was asked to sing more because of her love of gospel than her relationship with Eaglin.

There was a lot of good humor in the stories Quint Davis and John Blancher told about life with Snooks, and there was a little strange drama in the emergence of James Jackson, the drummer in Eaglin’s first band, the Flamingos. He seemed to need to be central to things, standing with Eaglin at his coffin when Flamingo bandmate Allen Toussaint started his recollections of Eaglin. But who knows? Maybe he was closer to Eaglin than any of us knew, or maybe this was his first chance to feel like a somebody in 50 years. At funerals, I prefer to attribute the most generous motives to people’s behavior.

The only time the star power of the event seemed a little unwieldy was the conclusion, led by Charmaine Neville, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and Frogman Henry. It was great to see Henry onstage, and it added a very New Orleans note of strangeness when he sang spirituals in his little girl voice, but otherwise, it was hard to know the connection between the participants and Eaglin – and maybe there wasn’t one. Maybe they were just there to express their sadness, and they did so by singing. It was the morning’s one show biz moment, but again, I’ll assume positive motivations on the part of all concerned.

The best stories: Snooks being kept awake by the sound of falling snow in Woodstock, New York; Snooks helping Toussaint figure out chords to popular songs on the piano; and Toussaint and Jackson confirmed the famed story of Snooks driving blind. Jackson says it was his car, and the only thing that worried him was that Snooks drove fast.

[UPDATE BELOW]

Antoinette K-Doe passed away of a heart attack early Tuesday morning after finishing her Lundi Gras shift at the Mother-in-Law Lounge. Thankfully, we were able to present her with our Heartbeat Award in January and let her know how we felt about her. 

Snooks Eaglin’s funeral plans have been made. On Friday, there will be a visitation at the Howlin’ Wolf from 9 a.m. to noon, then he will be buried at Providence Park Cemetery (8200 Airline Dr. in Metairie).

Update: 1:30 p.m.  - We’ve since got more details on Eaglin’s funeral. The doors open at the Wolf at 9 am., and the service will be from 10 to 12 p.m. with music by Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Deacon John. After that, there will be a second line with the Hot 8 and the Senior Division of the Young Olympia Brass Band, then a repast before the burial.

We  just heard that Snooks Eaglin passed away this afternoon. More when we know more.

We received this distressing email yesterday from Adele Dauphin at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl:

I wanted to update you on Snooks Eaglin and Harry Ravain.

Also, local drummer Harry Ravain has been battling lung cancer for a little
over a year now. Harry does all kinds of musical things, but most people
know him from Benny Grunch & the Bunch.  His prognosis is greatly improved
and it is possible for him to now have surgery to remove part of his lung so
he can be cancer-free. Rock ‘n’ Bowl and his friends will host a benefit on
Sunday, February 8 to help defray his medical expenses. A $5.00 donation
will get you entertainment by the following: Benny Grunch, Bobby Cure, Earl
Stanley, Fleur de Lis NOLA, John Blancher (!), The Nobles, New Orleans
Quarter Notes, Orleans, Paul Varisco, Phat Tuesday, acclaimed hypnotist
Amazing Dr. Z, and much more.  For more information, please call Alan Reese
at 504-888-9586 or 504-289-2167.  You can check up on Harry by reading his
blog, http://harryravain.blogspot.com/